Wednesday, April 27, 2005

Cumming Prelude # 24

It is the unique use of 5/8 meter that gives this piece its driving energy. It is organized in 2 and 3, and it causes you to be on the edge of your seat, bobbing your head with the pulse, 12 123 12 123 12 123. This rhythmic patter of two eights and a triplet is constant throughout the piece and is a sort of never ending motive. The piece begins with a melodic pattern in a subdued tone, and then repeats the pattern again with greater density, volume, and speed. There is then a chromatic pattern beginning softly and increasing, then a change of texture with dissonant chords and then the chromatic passage again, and then dissonant chords again. This whole page lacks any recognizable tonality or any clear direction. It is sporadic and makes you heart skip beats. There is nothing to hold onto and so it is very unnerving to the listener. But then there is finally a transition leading back to the 12 123 section of the beginning. It goes different directions this time and the chromatic passage comes back, leading to a very powerful ending.